Kuro «KuroKy» Salehi Takhasomi has made a name for himself as both a Dota 2 icon and a steadfast ally. In a recent discussion at PGL Wallachia Season 5 with Clement «Puppey» Ivanov and Johan «N0tail» Sundstein, he reminisced about a pivotal moment in Dota 2 history: the departure of Amer «Miracle-» Al-Barkawi from OG to Team Liquid following a disappointing performance at The International 2016.
The Roster Changes
In this notable roster change, Miracle- switched teams from OG to Team Liquid, while Jesse «JerAx» Vainikka made the reverse transition. As a result, OG was compelled to revamp their entire lineup, retaining only N0tail and Tal «Fly» Aizik. Despite Miracle- achieving success and winning The International with Liquid, there were no hard feelings between the two organizations.
Reflections on TI6
During the conversation with N0tail and Puppey, KuroKy reflected on the aftermath of TI6, particularly after OG faced an unexpected exit in the lower bracket’s second round. At that time, Miracle- was viewed as one of the top mechanical players globally, yet KuroKy admitted he refrained from reaching out to recruit him initially.
Image Caption: TI6 marked Miracle-’s debut at The International.
«I didn’t ask Miracle- to join out of respect for him [N0tail],» KuroKy shared. «He’s N0tail’s teammate, and I didn’t want to poach from him. It was that straightforward. I respected him as a player, but then I received a message from him on Steam, and that changed things.»
The Formation of a New Lineup
Team Liquid brought in Miracle- and Maroun «GH» Merhej to fill the gaps left by JerAx and Adrian «FATA-» Trinks, resulting in a legendary roster that clinched the title at The International that year. Conversely, OG reinforced their squad with players like Anathan «ana» Pham, JerAx, and Gustav «s4» Magnusson, achieving victories at both the Boston Major and Kiev Major with this lineup.
An Admired Leadership Approach
In the competitive landscape of Dota 2, KuroKy’s approach to this situation stands out. He not only avoided any semblance of poaching but also maximized the opportunity that presented itself when the best player in the world expressed interest in joining.
It is worth noting that Miracle- has maintained his allegiance to KuroKy since that time, even following him to establish Nigma Galaxy. While KuroKy has transitioned from being the team’s playing captain to assuming a coaching position, Miracle- is working through health challenges in hopes of returning to the professional Dota 2 scene soon.
